Concrete Leveling

Understanding Why Concrete Settles and Sinks

Sunken concrete is one of the most common problems property owners face. You notice your driveway has a low spot where water pools after rain. Your sidewalk develops a tripping hazard where one section dropped lower than the next. Your patio slopes toward your house instead of away from it, threatening your foundation with water damage. These problems happen because the soil underneath your concrete compressed, washed away, or was never properly compacted in the first place.

Several factors cause soil to compact or erode beneath concrete slabs. Poor drainage allows water to wash away supporting soil gradually over time. Tree roots grow under slabs and then rot, leaving voids that cause settling. Clay soils expand when wet and shrink when dry, creating cycles of movement that compact the base. Construction equipment and heavy loads compress inadequately compacted fill dirt. Once the supporting soil is gone, gravity pulls your concrete downward into the void.

The good news is that sunken concrete usually does not need replacement if the slab itself remains structurally sound. Concrete leveling techniques can raise settled slabs back to their original position at a fraction of replacement cost. This process fills voids beneath the concrete and lifts the slab to eliminate trip hazards, improve drainage, and restore appearance. Hutchinson Concrete specializes in leveling services that save you money while solving your concrete problems permanently.

Professional Leveling Techniques That Work

Polyurethane Foam Injection

Modern concrete leveling uses polyurethane foam injection to raise and stabilize sunken slabs. This process involves drilling small holes through the concrete, then injecting expanding polyurethane foam beneath the slab. The foam expands to fill voids, compact loose soil, and lift the concrete back to its proper level. Once the foam cures, it becomes a lightweight but incredibly strong material that permanently supports the concrete.

Polyurethane foam leveling offers major advantages over older techniques. The foam weighs far less than traditional mudjacking materials, which puts less stress on already unstable soil. It expands predictably, giving us precise control over how much the slab rises. The foam is waterproof and will not wash out like other fill materials. It cures in minutes rather than hours or days, so you can use the concrete almost immediately. The injection holes are only about the size of a penny, so repairs are nearly invisible once complete.

This method works for driveways, sidewalks, patios, garage floors, pool decks, and virtually any concrete slab that has settled but remains structurally intact. We can raise slabs from a fraction of an inch to several inches depending on how much settling occurred. The process is fast, clean, and far less disruptive than tearing out and replacing concrete. Most residential leveling projects take just a few hours from start to finish.

Benefits of Concrete Leveling

• •Costs 50 to 70 percent less than complete concrete replacement
• •Completes in hours instead of days with minimal disruption
• •Eliminates trip hazards that create liability and safety concerns
• •Improves drainage by restoring proper slope away from structures
• •Permanent solution that will not settle or wash out over time
• •Nearly invisible repair with small injection holes that blend in

If your concrete has extensive cracking or structural damage beyond just settling, you may need repair or replacement services instead of leveling. We evaluate your situation honestly and recommend the best solution.

What to Expect During Concrete Leveling

The leveling process begins with careful assessment of your sunken concrete. We measure exactly how much each section has settled and inspect the slab for structural damage that might prevent successful leveling. We also identify what caused the settling so we can address those issues and prevent future problems. For example, if poor drainage washed away soil, we recommend drainage improvements alongside leveling to ensure lasting results.

Once we understand your situation, we develop a leveling plan that maps out where to drill injection holes and how much lift each area needs. Strategic hole placement ensures we raise the entire slab evenly without creating new problems. We use laser levels and surveying equipment to monitor progress precisely as we work. This planning phase takes only minutes but makes the difference between mediocre and excellent results.

The actual leveling work happens quickly and cleanly. We drill small injection holes at strategic locations, then pump polyurethane foam beneath the slab. You can watch the concrete rise in real time as foam fills voids and lifts the slab. We monitor constantly to ensure even lifting without overdoing it. Once the slab reaches the target height, the foam stops expanding and cures within minutes. We patch the injection holes with concrete that matches your existing surface as closely as possible.

After leveling, you can typically use your concrete within an hour or two. There is no lengthy curing period like new concrete requires. We clean up thoroughly, leaving your property looking better than when we arrived. If needed, we also address any drainage issues or other factors that contributed to settling. The result is concrete that looks better, drains properly, and stays level for years to come. For new concrete work, we also offer professional driveway installation when leveling is not enough to solve your problems.

Common Questions About Concrete Leveling